From the moment you board the boat we were looked after by designated staff. Would definitely recommend this experience if you love the ocean & snorkeling. The reefsuite room was an absolute highlight.
An incredible experience if you like fish. We have dived and snorkelled extensively in many countries, so the idea of snorkelling off a tourist pontoon was not a drawcard for us, but the idea of spending a night in an underwater hotel room with floor to ceiling glass, even in the bathroom, and more glass in the floor -- certainly was a drawcard. And it did not disappoint. Be sure you get the "reef suite" and not the "reef sleep", as they are substantially different. Three hour trip out from Airlie with 100 randoms who then spend a couple of hours splashing around the pontoon, then they thankfully depart back to the mainland and you have the place to yourself. The staff are amazing, the food is plentiful and of good quality, and the drinks flow freely. But you won't want to leave your room, and watch the daytime fish get replaced with the nighttime GTs and their various moods that change minute by minute, and the lurking presence of a 1.75 metre Qld Grouper and his little 1.5m friend. This is an experience best suited to people who don't sleep soundly, because you'll want to keep waking again and again throughout the night to see what's going on. There are two suites, each just like a compact hotel room and *very* nicely appointed, given they are under the water. There are also a dozen tents on deck, but tbh I think it's well worth just paying the extra and doing it properly. In the morning, after a great breakfast, some snorkel time, and some morning tea, the boat returns with more punters ready to have a thrash around in the water. But you're having lunch somewhere separate and then get back on the boat to head back to land. Basically, the flow is: 3hrs on the boat in transit, 4hrs with randoms thrashing the water snorkelling in lifejackets, 20hrs of sane serenity on the pontoon spending as much time in your room as possible or snorkelling in peace, 4 hrs of randoms and 3hr boat trip. The "busy time" on the pontoon is the price of admission, and once the boat departs the vibe completely changes. This is a unique experience.
Staying in the underwater Reef Suite was amazing! The staff, food, room and overall adventure including snorkeling exceeded every expectation.
This was the highlight of our holiday. If you have time to do this trip, I would suggest it to anyone. Amazing value for money. All staff members are friendly and give great advice, the reefsuites are really smart and the once in a lifetime opportunity to stay underwater in the rooms are breath-taking. The food is great, the unlimited drinks which include alcohol. There are no more issues with the workers on strike like you can see below.
The staff, the food, snorkeling, but especially watching the fish from the bedroom and bathroom of the room was a once in a lifetime experience!